Living room furniture: varieties, tips for selection and location

Even if an apartment does not have a large number of rooms, most people try to make room for a living room in it. It is nice to get together in the evening watching your favorite movie, relax after a hard day's work or throw a party with friends and family. Its equipment plays a significant role. Furniture should not only be functional, but also create an individual style that reflects the preferences and character of the owners themselves.

The amount of furniture, its style and size largely depend on the size of the room itself. But this is not the only parameter that you should rely on when choosing a complete set. Let's figure out what kind of furniture is traditionally placed in the living room.

These items are designed for convenient placement of things, books, photographs, TV and other audio and video equipment. And if even in the recent past preference was given to headsets (walls), today you can increasingly find racks and slides.

They take up less space and there are many options for placing them. In this case, individual modules can be suspended. This gives the whole structure weightlessness and lightness.

The traditional set of a large sofa and two armchairs is gradually losing its position. In modern interiors, designers try to free up as much space as possible. Therefore, they are replaced by poufs... They can be absolutely any size, color and shape. Often they just complement the sofa. In this case, they can be moved to it, increasing its area, or used separately.

There are two options for placing the dining area: in the kitchen and in the living room. This is often due to the fact that a small kitchen simply cannot accommodate all family members. Another reason is the combination of these two rooms into a single space.

Not everyone has the opportunity to organize their personal office in the apartment. But a desktop is still necessary. Some people prefer to place it in the bedroom, while others equip a work area in the living room. Here you need to make sure that it does not take up much space, but at the same time it is convenient and functional. If necessary, the same table can be used for creativity (crafts with children, drawing and much more).

In addition to the main upholstered furniture, you can provide a separate couch or chair for reading your favorite books or magazines. Of course, this can also be done on the couch. But how nice it is to turn on a floor lamp or a lamp with soft light, wrap yourself in a blanket and, while drinking coffee, delve into reading your favorite book. At the same time, you will not interfere with your household watching a movie or working at a computer.

When listing the main types of living room furniture, one cannot but take into account the fact that every family is unique. Some fans of an active lifestyle and rarely stay at home, others are engaged in creativity and music. All these hobbies may require separate furniture, which will need to be placed in the living room. For example, for craftswomen it is a comfortable table with many drawers, for musicians - a piano, for artists - an easel.

Before buying furniture, you must clearly understand for what purposes you need this or that item. The slide you like can be endlessly beautiful and cause a storm of emotions, but it is important to understand whether it will accommodate everything you need and whether it will fit in size. That's why functionality should still be in the foreground.

You can relax after a working day or a busy weekend on a cozy sofa. Before buying, calculate exactly what size it should be... After all, the whole family should sit comfortably on it. Additional places for relaxation can also be envisaged - poufs, couches, armchairs. If the style permits, then you can put the bean bag chair popular today. It is comfortable to sit and lie in, and if necessary, you can easily move to another place.

We spend most of our evenings with our family. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to buy and equip a separate area just for receiving guests. It is enough to think over the options for small permutations, if necessary.

We have already mentioned that a separate table may be needed for these purposes. If the dining group is located in the living room, then you can use it. But it will not be very convenient. Households may want to drink tea or have dinner, and at this time you will be in full swing work on creating a handmade masterpiece, or a pile of papers is spread out and a laptop is open. In addition, if you sit at the computer for a long time, then you will need to get a special chair to reduce the load on the spine.

This is a traditional dining group - a large table and chairs. By the way, it doesn't have to be very large if only a few people live in the apartment. Its equipment can also vary depending on the size of the room and your needs.

For these purposes, it is not necessary to install large cabinets, which will certainly "eat up" part of the space. Think about what exactly you will need to store in the room. It is quite possible that one chest of drawers will be enough. Another option would be inline modules. Especially if the room has niches on one or more walls. It will be difficult to put standard furniture in them, but it is quite possible to install built-in wardrobes on an individual order.

Very often in Soviet sideboards one could see crystal sets of dishes in sideboards with legs. This was considered a sign of wealth. But this time is irrevocably gone. Yes, and large libraries are now quite rare. That's why displaying books, photographs and dishes in open or transparent sections is more of a decorating technique than a real need to place these items on shelves and racks.

Living room furniture manufacturers offer us various options for arranging these living rooms. They can be high or low, with hanging modules and open shelves, made of glass and wood. It is from the materials used in production that the price of the finished item depends to a greater extent.

Reliable and durable material... When choosing, pay attention to the fact whether they offer you solid wood furniture or is it pressed and glued material. In addition, the durability and physical characteristics are highly dependent on the wood species. For example, oak will be very durable, but quite heavy. Pine products are distinguished by their lightness, but they are easily scratched and damaged by mechanical stress, since the wood is rather soft.

Modern materials that are often used in the manufacture of cabinet furniture. Fiberboard has the best characteristics and can have a different texture, but it is much more expensive than chipboard. Most often, only facades are made from it, while the rest of the hidden elements are made from cheaper chipboard.

Not everyone accepts the presence of metal structures in their own living room. But they can also look very laconic and stylish, if you think over the general design of the room in advance. Needless to say, the excellent physical properties of such furniture. It is strong, durable and does not require additional maintenance.

Sofa and armchairs with natural leather upholstery always look expensive and respectable... But many users claim that in practice, ordinary textiles are more comfortable. Leather can also be used to upholster chair backs, armrests and even some shelves (to create a consistent look).

The dining glass table will visually dissolve in space. Wherein such an item is quite durable and reliable. And also glass can be found in the design of sections of walls and slides. Shelves for shelving and other storage systems are made from it.

This material is being improved every year. Today, some of its types are very difficult to distinguish from natural wood or even marble. At the same time, it remains one of the most affordable materials. Designers love it for its flexibility and durability. It can be given almost any, even the most bizarre shape.

Do not forget that, in addition to basic materials, furniture is often decorated or upholstered with textiles. The service life of your upholstered furniture will depend on its quality. A good choice of color and style will create a certain mood. Moreover, all textile elements must go well with each other.

The overall impression and the final design will depend on the choice of color for the living room. The color of the furniture should be in harmony with the decoration of the walls and ceiling.... But this does not mean at all that they should be identical or even similar.

If you look at the designer color wheel, you will find a lot of shades for each color. It is on this basis that monochrome interiors are built.

If the previous option seems too boring for you, then try to create your own unique contrasting interior. For example, for the living room, where the walls and floors are finished in soothing colors, you can buy a bright original sofa, which will act as a color accent.

It doesn't have to be pure white. This color range also includes pastel colors, which are very pleasing to the eye. Many are afraid of them, as they consider them to be easily soiled. But on dark furniture, dust and dirt are visible even more than on light ones.

These include such popular shades as wenge, black, brown and gray. It should be understood that dark color makes the space smaller, and therefore it should be no more than 60% of the total. If the room is small, then it is better to use such tones as additional, and not basic.

Manufacturers today pay great attention to the style and design of furniture. They, like no one else, understand that every object in the interior should emphasize its uniqueness and create a certain mood. The most popular and demanded today are the following styles and directions of furniture design:

• modern;

• provence;

• loft;

• high tech;

• neoclassicism;

• Scandinavian style;

• minimalism;

• country.

Each of them is unique in its own way and has distinctive features. But designers are not used to offering boilerplate solutions. Therefore, you can often see a mixture of one or more styles in one living room. To venture on such an experiment without the appropriate experience is a risky business. Instead of a stylish and unique design, you can end up with a "prefab hodgepodge". That's why it is still better to turn to specialists, or choose an option from ready-made templates.

Furniture design is largely determined by the style in which it is made. But this does not mean that all minimalist headsets will be similar to one another. Yes, they will have common features (such as straight lines and lack of decorative elements), but each of them will still be unique and good in its own way.

There are many furniture manufacturers on the market. Among them are Russian and foreign firms. Each of them presents their products. It can vary in style, quality of materials and workmanship, price, equipment. It is important to find worthy options among them.

Our closest neighbors have also excelled in the production of living room furniture. Belarusian manufacturers keep up with the times, most of the companies have websites with prices and catalogs. In addition, furniture exhibitions are held annually in the country, where manufacturers exchange experience and discuss fashion trends. Among the market leaders are the following companies: Bobruiskmebel, Zaslavskaya Furniture Factory, Neman, Pinskdrev.

Our leading manufacturers do not lag behind, and sometimes surpass foreign ones in quality and range of products presented to the market.They are able to set reasonable prices since they do not have to pay customs duties and the shipping costs are cheaper.

Among the leaders of the domestic market are such companies as Shatura-Mebel, Lazurit, TriYa, Soyuz-Mebel and Stoplit.

Among Polish furniture manufacturers there are both very small enterprises producing economy-class furniture, as well as world-famous companies. Generally speaking, Polish furniture is distinguished by its unusual colorful color, attention to detail and excellent workmanship and raw materials. Here are the top 5 companies whose products are in the greatest demand:

• Libro;
• Bydgoskie Meble;
• Gala Collezione;
• PMW;
• Etap Sofa.

Italian furniture factories cannot be ignored. This furniture is considered an icon of style and grace. For its production, high quality materials are used, and the design meets all the latest fashion trends.

The following Italian furniture manufacturers have gained particular popularity in Russia:

• Cassina;
• Savio Firmino;
• Poltrona Frau;
• Angelo Cappellini;
• Valderamobili.

Finding the perfect piece of furniture for your own living room isn't easy. There are a lot of factors to consider here. But even having found your ideal option, the price may not suit you. Let's figure out what to look for when choosing.

The range of prices for furniture is quite wide. Most often, good quality models made from natural materials are very expensive. And also the price depends on the number of items... If one mini-rack and a sofa is enough for your hall, then it will be inexpensive. When buying a large set of cabinets, shelving and a whole set of upholstered furniture, you will have to spend a much larger amount.

The dimensions of the furniture must correspond to the available square meters. A small wall will look lonely against a long, empty wall. Conversely, do not overload the already modest space with unnecessary items. Yes, you will place everything you need in these cabinets, but the overall appearance of the room will be ruined.

This parameter should be given special attention. If you buy furniture from the manufacturer, then focus on those brands that have proven themselves well in the market. It will not be superfluous to consult with experts in this field, if there are any in your environment.

With the choice of a company that manufactures custom-made furniture, the situation is more complicated. Even in small towns, you can find more than one, or even two such organizations. It is unprofitable to order furniture in larger cities or even contact the capital's craftsmen. After all, you will have to pay for delivery, and the question will also arise of who will collect the brought goods. Therefore, we recommend that you collect information about the company where you want to contact even before its first visit. Friends, acquaintances, colleagues and specialized review sites will help you with this.

As for the quality, then here it is better to overpay for a reliable option than to buy furniture from dubious manufacturers at low prices. You do not buy it for one year. And therefore, it should serve for a long time, without bringing additional problems and costs.

When choosing furniture, it is necessary to take into account how many people permanently reside in the apartment. All family members should be comfortable and comfortable. If this is a sofa, then it is better to choose one where everyone can easily fit together. The same rule applies to the dining table and the number of chairs behind it.

And also worth paying attention on the convenience of using this or that item by children or elderly people. Too high racks will be inconvenient for the last category of tenants. Although this will help to place things that need to be kept out of the reach of children.

Today it is not necessary to buy kits presented in showrooms and shops. Sellers will be happy to offer you to make your own typesetting kit. This means that from the available modules and sections, you can choose only those that you need and suit.

This allows you to create your own universal set of furniture. Pay attention to the style. Very bright and unusual models can quickly go out of fashion and just get bored with you. Don't chase the latest trends.

Manufacturers are increasingly trying to combine several functions in one item. This is done mainly to save space. If you buy a large sofa, then it can also be a place to store bed linen and serve as an additional bed (when unfolding). Such transformer items make life much easier, saving you unnecessary costs and freeing up space in the apartment.

Today you can find unusual cabinets, behind the doors of which anything can be hidden. For some, it is very important to place a folding work table there. This can be a place to work on a PC, or a small corner for handicrafts. Others will prefer to hide the pull-down bed there. Still others just need to place a dining table and a bar in a niche. There are a lot of options here, so before giving preference to standard models, think about such interesting options.

When choosing individual elements and objects, start from the general style of the room. The living room should give the impression of a single laconic space. Better think in advance what and where you will have a stand, and what size this or that object will be... If this is a wardrobe or a rack, then think about whether you want the usual straight lines and sharp corners, or maybe give preference to curved furniture (the facades are rounded).

In the latter case, you will significantly soften the lines of the room. This idea can be supported with appropriate upholstered furniture with smooth, cozy shapes and lines. A soft carpet with a long pile will complement the picture. And vice versa, if you can trace clear, strict forms and lines (in the decoration of walls, floors), then the furniture should also have the correct geometric shapes.

It is difficult to give a universal scenario for arranging furniture in a living room. Each room has individual parameters... And the functionality can be very different. But there are still several time-tested options.

Shelves (wall, slide or shelves) are located along one of the walls, and a TV is also installed there. Upholstered furniture separates the area of ​​the room around this composition. The rest of the room can be used as a dining area. It should be noted that this arrangement came to us from the West and requires quite a lot of space.

The scenario we are used to for arranging all interior items along the walls. The middle is often left unused. To make it look more comfortable, it is covered with carpets, skins and the like. This layout allows you to leave a lot of open space.... This is true when there are children in the house who like to frolic and play.

If we talk about the basic rules for arranging furniture in the living room, then you should rely on a number of points.

1. Convenience. During operation, you should not have any difficulties. Narrow passages will make it difficult to get to one part of the room or another.And also think about whether all cabinets and shelves are in direct access, whether other objects interfere with opening and closing the doors.
2. Style. Regardless of how much furniture you will have in the living room, the whole composition should look concise. You may have to give up some items in favor of beauty and style. Don't clutter up the space.
3. Functional. It is not enough to choose a good soft sofa, it is also necessary to place it so that everyone sitting can see the TV well. The same applies to armchairs, if any.

When arranging your own living room, it is not necessary to follow generally accepted rules and techniques for its design. Try to create something truly unique with a distinct character. Admiring and being in a room where every detail is thought out by you personally is doubly pleasant.

Before heading out for furniture, and even better, before starting the renovation, draw up a design project for the future premises. If you do not have the skills of working in graphic editors, then just imagine and try to draw your future living room. This will help you determine what kind of furniture and in what style will suit you, as well as its dimensions.

The final set of furniture will depend on what functions the room will perform. If this is just a rest room, then upholstered furniture and a TV rack will be enough. In your case, other items may be added, such as a massage chair or piano, a highchair or a sports corner. The location and size of all these items must be thought out in advance.

When choosing furniture for the living room, you can rely on ready-made and proven scenarios for its arrangement and configuration. But no one will forbid you to come up with your own design project. For its implementation, most likely, you will have to contact a custom-made furniture company.

In stores and on Internet sites, you can find furniture from budget versions to super-expensive models. But is it worth laying out a fortune at one table or a handmade chest of drawers. There can be no definite answer.

Living room loft style with massive brutal furniture. Such furniture is preferred by self-confident people who know their own worth and respect others.

Minimalist living room design does not mean a complete lack of furniture. All modules and cabinets are well camouflaged and blend in with the walls.

Classic interiors require the use of quality materials. Only in this case the living room will look dignified and stylish.